The Federal Government says it is in active diplomatic discussions with the United States following military threats issued by U.S. President Donald Trump against Nigeria.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed this during an interview with Sky News, stating that diplomatic channels are already helping to ease tensions between both countries.
“Channels of communication have been opened. I can confirm that we are talking with them, and I think they are beginning to understand the situation better,” Idris said.
He explained that the conflict in Nigeria—particularly the fight against Boko Haram—is widely misunderstood abroad. “Much of the information fueling the current tension stems from a lack of proper understanding of the diversity and complexity of the problem we face,” he noted.
Idris insisted that Nigeria has not lost any territory to Boko Haram, stressing that insurgency in the country does not resemble conventional warfare.
The minister also accused a proscribed separatist group of collaborating with foreign lobbyists in the U.S. to distort facts and mislead American officials. “We have seen a direct connection between lobbyists in the U.S. and a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria,” he alleged. “They have been reaching out to influential figures in the United States to push misinformation.”
While emphasising that the U.S. has historically supported Nigeria in its counterterrorism efforts, Idris appealed for renewed cooperation. “In the past, the United States helped Nigerian authorities deal with terrorism. We are calling on them once again to partner with us so we can finally secure sustainable peace in our country,” he said.
He added that Nigeria was “surprised” by some of the statistics emanating from the U.S., insisting that much of the data being used to support claims of religious persecution in the country “cannot stand scientific scrutiny.”
Idris stressed that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees religious freedom and that the ongoing conflict is not rooted in religious intolerance. He urged the international community to appreciate the “diversity and complexity” of Nigeria’s security challenges.
Trump’s Threat
On November 2, Trump issued an explosive message on his Truth Social platform, directing the Pentagon to prepare possible military action in Nigeria, claiming Christianity was “facing an existential threat” in the country.
He warned that if Nigerian authorities fail to stop the alleged killings, the U.S. would launch an attack that would be “fast, vicious, and sweet,” likening it to assaults by “terrorist thugs on our cherished Christians.”
Two weeks later, Trump repeated the threat. Responding to reporters aboard Air Force One about whether he was considering U.S. troops or airstrikes, he said:
“Could be. I envisage a lot of things.”
The remarks have sparked intense reactions from political leaders, diplomats, and analysts in both countries.
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